CN1764549B - Printer and printing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a printer (101) comprising a longitudinal media output opening (30), particularly for a digital tachograph of a motor vehicle, and at least one contact surface (15), which delimits the media output (30) in a transverse direction and along which the printing medium (91) slides during output. The boundary conditions of the operation of a small-format printer in a digital tachograph of a motor vehicle require the media output opening (30) to be sealed as to prevent the entry of damaging media. To this end, the invention provides that the media output opening (30) is provided with a longitudinal sealing closure (2), which can move in a transverse direction and elastically presses with a sealing element (14) against the contact surface (15), and the printing medium (91)can be output in an output direction (12) between the contact surface (15) and the sealing closure (2). The invention also relates to a printing method during which the printing medium placed on a roll is, in the meantime, completely drawn in.

Description

Printer and printing method thereof

technical field

The invention relates to a printer with an elongated media output opening, in particular a digital speed recorder for automobiles, which printer has at least one support surface which delimits the media output opening in the transverse direction, on which the printing medium is output during output Slide along the supporting surface. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a printing method for a printer of the above-mentioned type.

Background technique

Printers of the aforementioned type are especially small-format instruments, as they are provided, for example, at cash registers or bank automated banking machines for printing receipts. The media stock is here usually wound on a roll, and the printed parts can be separated from the media stock with the aid of a paper cutter.

Developments in the use of printers for future generations of tachographs (digital recorders) present previously unknown requirements in which chip cards are used instead of previously applied features for recording the driver's work position chart disk with data. One way of outputting the recorded data consists in printing out the corresponding data on a paper tape by means of a built-in printer. According to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (GGVS) of the road, such a device installed in a vehicle must comply with protection class IP 54, and the printer and its media outlet must accordingly be sealed against sprayed water under certain conditions.

Contents of the invention

Correspondingly, the object of the present invention is to seal the media outlet opening of the printer so that print media can still be output from the outlet opening.

In order to achieve the object according to the invention, a printer is proposed which has an elongated media outlet opening, which printer has at least one support surface which delimits the media outlet opening in transverse direction, along which the printing medium is placed on the outlet during output. Sliding on it, it is characterized in that the medium output hole has a long sealing closure device, which can move in the lateral direction and use the sealing contact part to elastically press against the support surface to close the medium output hole, wherein the printing medium can The output is between the support surface and the sealing closure in the output direction. Furthermore, a printing method is described: the control unit controls the media feed from the media storage tape and is designed in such a way that in the first step of the printing process the printing medium from the media storage tape is fed in the output direction to the sealing closure In the second step, the printed printing media is separated from the media storage tape and the remaining printing media connected to the media storage tape is fed back in the opposite direction of the output direction in the third step until the There is no longer any printing medium between the support surface and the sealing contact. The attached subclaims describe some advantageous developments of the invention.

The main advantage of the device according to the invention is based on the fact that the sealing contacts rest elastically against the support surface, thus forming an always reliable seal for eg sprayed water or similar harmful media. According to the geometry of the sealing closure Shape to determine the size of the elastic modulus accordingly, which is used to ensure a certain surface pressure between the sealing contact part and the support surface, this pressure prevents the entry of harmful media and at the same time enables the output of printing media. Here in the support The abutting contact between the surface and the sealing contact has a small length in the output direction, so that an essentially linear abutting contact is produced in the longitudinal direction of the medium output hole. Correspondingly, it is designed as a narrow edge seal The contact part is elastically sealed and pressed tightly against the support surface of the medium outlet opening. Although the output force of the medium through the sealing device is small, the sealing contact part reaches the maximum surface pressure on the support surface and thus ensures a sufficient seal. In this way, the sealing and closing device can be designed to be passive, that is to say, the pressure of the medium to be output is sufficient to overcome the friction of the medium opposite to the output direction generated by the sealing and closing device. The active movement of the sealing and closing device, For example, with an electric motor, it is not necessary. It is especially advantageous that a design structure of the sealing closure device can make the medium to be output squeezed through the gap created between the sealing closure device and the supporting surface, while initially The medium is not located in this gap.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention provides that the sealing closure is designed as an elastic sealing device with an elastic sealing lip which elastically presses against the support surface. The sealing lip is advantageously adapted to the unevenness of the corresponding support surface, so that a very good flatness of the support surface is not required to ensure the seal.

The sealing device may advantageously have an at least partially sickle-shaped cross-sectional profile, wherein the convex side of the cross-sectional profile points in a direction opposite to the output direction of the printing medium. This structure makes it possible that the pressure applied from the outside under certain conditions only locally strengthens the contact pressure of the elastic sealing lip against the support surface, which ensures a reliable seal.

A further variant of the device according to the invention provides a sealing device which is designed as a hollow contour and has a circular or oval or oval wall surrounding the cavity. In this refinement, the gap formed between the support surface and the corresponding sealing contact is designed to be tapered so that the medium to be delivered can be trapped as if in a position even with a low longitudinal bending stability. In this wedge-shaped contour, the sealing device can be squeezed without problems during delivery. Such a hollow profile seal is advantageously arranged on a shaft with a circular cross-section, wherein the shaft extending through the cavity of the hollow profile has a cross-section smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity, thus producing a seal suitable for the medium The deformation range of the output hollow profile.

Particularly dangerous locations of the seal are located at the two ends delimiting the longitudinal extent, where advantageously, when the seal is designed with a sickle-shaped cross-sectional profile, end ribs can be provided in each case in the concave cavity surface. This end cross rib acts as a barrier for the applied harmful medium, so that the fluid can continue to pass away from the end of the sealing device. This configuration ensures a particularly good seal if the plane defined by the respective end ribs is arranged obliquely to the transverse direction, such that the end ribs make an angle between 30° and 85° to the longitudinal axis of the seal in the longitudinal direction. °, especially 60°. The minimum infiltration ratio of harmful media can be formed at about 60°.

The above-mentioned inclined position is advantageous in that the distance between the opposite end ribs at the two ends increases towards the sealing contact. Especially when a sealing closure is provided with downwardly directed sealing lips, this obliquely arranged end web allows the applied medium to escape with only a minimal leakage rate.

In order to provide the necessary stability to this previously shape-unstable seal with a sickle-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, in particular against rolling up or turning over, it is advisable to provide at least A further transverse rib with the same oblique position, in particular parallel to the end transverse rib, is provided in the recessed cavity surface. This rib can also, like the end ribs, make the added harmful medium flow in the desired discharge direction, especially if it has a groove along the concave cavity surface and the cavity surface in the area of its extension in the transverse direction. When making a complete and leak-proof connection.

In particular, the assembly process is considerably easier if the sealing device consists of two parts of different hardness, wherein the softer part is arranged in the region of the sealing contact, while the harder part is located substantially for the fixing of the sealing part. in the area of the device. On the one hand, it is easier for the assembler to move and manipulate such a certain form-stable component, and on the other hand, the risk of incorrect assembly and damage is greatly reduced.

The sealing device can advantageously be fixed in the region lying opposite the support at the border of the paper output opening. Here the sealing device can be guided by means of a centering projection, wherein it is advantageously in the transverse direction on the opposite side of the sealing contact. In the fixed area there are recesses in which the centering protrusions are arranged. For positionally accurate centering, these recesses advantageously have a mating surface for the centering protrusions, which is formed in a relatively Layer formation of softer parts on hard parts. On the centering projection, in the contact area of the recess, a press fit can be achieved by coating the harder sealing device part with a softer sealing part, with no Very precise tolerances, however with essentially the same positional accuracy. Advantageously, the sealing means are held and thus fixed in the position given by the centering means with fastening means.

The sealing closure can be designed not as an elastic sealing lip, but as a spring sealing closure, with a leaf spring part designed as a leaf spring, to which a closure part is connected, which has a substantially rigid The contact edge, which bears against the support surface with the sealing contact, wherein the leaf spring part elastically pre-presses the closure part against the support surface. Compared to the previously described solutions with elastic sealing lips, an essentially rigid contact edge made of metal or plastic advantageously has the advantage of a longer service life due to less wear.

Especially when the support surface is made of injection-moulded plastic, there is a gap of several hundredths between the rigid contact edge, which usually has very good flatness, and the support surface, which can only be produced at great expense with the same flatness. mm gap, which can advantageously be compensated if the supporting surface is provided with an upholstery layer. With regard to the coefficient of friction and elasticity, felt has proven to be the preferred material for the upholstery layer. For a suitable positive guidance of the printing medium, usually paper, the sealing device has, in the continuation, opposite the output direction, a sliding surface connected to the contact edge, which forms an acute angle with the support surface on the sealing contact. Especially in the end region of the sealing device that limits the longitudinal extension, it is advantageous that if the sealing device is designed to be slightly longer than the outlet opening, a labyrinth effect narrowing is formed between the wall of the outlet opening and the sealing device. sealing gap. The gap can additionally be provided with protrusions or blocking walls.

In order to improve the tightness of the sealing device according to the invention of the media output aperture of the printer, it is advantageous if the control unit controls the media feed from the media storage tape and the design of the control unit is such that the media is fed in the first step of the printing process. The printed media of the storage tape is transported in the output direction to the far side of the sealing device, the printed media is separated from the media storage tape in the second step and the remaining media connected to the media storage tape is reversed in the third step Transport back in the output direction until there is no longer any medium between the support surface and the sealing contact. Such a control device for the feed primarily prevents the penetration of harmful media through the gap between the printing medium in the area of the support surface and the support surface or the sealing contact. In addition, due to the prevention of diffusion through the printing medium opposite to the output direction. The feeding of the printing medium can be designed in such a way that after separation from the printing part, the printing medium is conveyed by a certain amount counter to the output direction by means of a stepper motor, so that between the sealing device and the support surface there is a gap between the sealing contacts. There is no longer print media in the area. Optionally, a corresponding sensor can give the control unit feedback about the presence or absence of printing medium in the region of the sealing contact.

Description of drawings

The present invention will be described in detail below according to the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In addition to the indicated possibilities, there are also further embodiments according to the type of invention for the specialist.

The accompanying drawings show:

Figures 1 to 4: respectively show perspective views of parts of the sealing device according to the invention;

Figure 5: a complete perspective view of a sealing device according to the present invention;

Figure 6: Rear perspective view of a front panel fitted with a sealing device according to the invention;

Fig. 7: A sectional view of a sealing device according to the present invention in the state of loading;

Figure 8: a rear perspective view of a sealing device according to the invention incorporated in a front baffle;

FIG. 9 : A sectional view of a sealing device according to the invention in the installed state.

10 to 12 : respectively show views in three different viewing directions of a sealing device according to the invention with a leaf spring part;

Fig. 13, 14: respectively show the cross-sectional view of a kind of sealing device according to the present invention with the leaf spring part when it is installed, one has a support surface and one has no support surface;

Figure 15: Rear perspective view of a front bezel fitted with a seal having a leaf spring portion;

Figure 16: A front perspective view of a support surface with felt strips pasted on a drawer-type baffle;

Figure 17: Schematic representation of the printing method according to the invention in three steps.

Detailed ways

Figures 1 and 2 show a stiffer part 1 of a sealing closure 2 according to the invention from front and rear views.

Figures 3 and 4 show a softer part 3 from front and rear perspective views, and in Figure 5 an assembled view of a hermetic closure 2 consisting of two different parts 1, 3, The softer part 3 differs from that shown in FIG. 3 in that it has a plurality of transverse ribs 4 in addition to the two end transverse ribs. The harder part 1 of the sealing closure 2 is provided with recesses 6, which are used to accommodate not shown centering projections, wherein the softer part 2 is provided with a hollow profile 7 for each recess 6, which form The part 7 can be inserted into the recess 6 of the harder part 1 with an exact fit and in this way forms a layer 8 of the softer part 3 on the harder part 1 and at the same time forms a mating surface for a centering projection not shown. 9. The sealing closure 2 has a sickle-shaped sealing lip 10 , the lip 11 of which in the installed state is oriented opposite to the delivery direction 12 as shown in FIG. 7 . The opposite concave cavity surface 13 points in the output direction 12 and is obtained by means of the transverse ribs 4 and the end transverse ribs 5 in order to prevent rolling up or turning over when loaded by the force of the printing medium (91) or a harmful medium applied from the outside. Reinforced, these transverse ribs have a complete and leak-proof connection with the concave cavity surface 13 on their transversely extending periphery. As shown in FIG. 7 , the sealing closure 2 is elastically preloaded against the support surface 15 by means of the sealing contact 14 . Both the end transverse rib 5 and the transverse rib 4 have, in their extension away from the sealing contact 14 , an intermediate inclined position with respect to the longitudinal extension of the sealing arrangement. Here, the angle between the end transverse rib 5 and the longitudinal axis 16 of the sealing closure 2 is approximately 65°, while the angle between the transverse rib 4 and the longitudinal axis 16 is approximately 55°. The device is arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane passing through the middle of the longitudinal extension.

FIG. 6 shows a rear perspective view of a front panel 20 of a digital or speed recorder assembled with the sealing closure 2 according to FIG. 5 . The recess 6 here engages with the centering protrusion 21, while the sealing means abuts in the type and manner shown in FIG. An integral part of the drawer includes a space for a media storage tape for roll-shaped printing media 91 . At the end of the sealing device 2, the front baffles 20 are each provided with a partition wall 25 extending inwardly perpendicular to the front baffle 20, which can prevent harmful media from entering from the side. The sectional view shown in Figure 7 shows the front panel 20 in assembly, which is designed in one piece with the centering protrusion 21, and also shows the sealing closure device 2, which has a softer part 3 and a harder part 1 and The sealing lip 10 cooperates in the region of the sealing contact 14 with the support surface 15 which is a component of the drawer flap 22 . Furthermore, there is a paper cutter 26 for the printed printing medium (not shown) above and below each, located behind the sealing lip 10 in the output direction 12 . The printing medium 91 slides along the inward extension of the support surface 15 into the area of the sealing contact 14 and slides past the sealing lip 10 under the action of the elastic deformation of the sealing closure 2 in the delivery direction 12 from a medium delivery opening 30 output. The airtight closure 2 is fastened in a fastening region to the front panel 20 by means of fastening elements, wherein the airtight closure 2 is positioned by means of the centering projections 21 in contact with the mating surface 9 covered with the layer of the softer part 3 .

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 have shown another kind of design scheme of sealing closure device 2 according to the present invention, and wherein sealing closure device 2 is designed as flexible hose 40, has substantially circular cross-section. The other parts of this device and The structure in the above-mentioned device according to the invention is substantially the same, in which the sealing closure device 2 designed as a hose 40 is fixed by means of a shaft 41 which is extended in the longitudinal direction of the sealing closure device 2 by The cavity formed by the hose 40 extends and is likewise of circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the shaft 41 is chosen to be a smaller value, which corresponds substantially to the corresponding deformation in the output area of the printing medium.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a third embodiment of the sealing closure device 2 according to the invention, wherein the device has a leaf spring part 51 , a closure part 50 and a fastening part 52 . The sealing closure device 2 is made in one piece as a bent metal stamping. The closure part 50 is curved in an L-shape, wherein the curved outer edge is designed according to FIGS. 13 and 14 for contacting the sealing contact 14 on the support surface 15 . The leaf spring part 51 is basically divided into two leaf springs 55 arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the sealing closure device 2, which, taking into account the rigidity of the closure part, ensure that the sealing contact part 14 is along the supporting surface 15. Longitudinal extension with uniform contact force. The support surface 15 on the drawer panel 22 is provided with an upholstery layer, that is felt 57, which prevents the contact between the sealing contact 14 and the injection-moulded support surface 15 of the drawer panel 22, which is designed without special tolerances. A gap is formed.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the installed state, in which a partition wall 25 is likewise provided on the front panel 20 similar to that in FIG. 6 at the side ends of the sealing closure 2 . This allows the L-shaped leaf spring portion 51 continuing the closing portion 50 to serve as an incidental guide for the printing medium 91 (not shown).

Figure 17 shows schematically the printing method according to the invention in three steps a, b, c, by means of a control unit 93, a media storage tape 92 consisting of a printing medium 91 rolled onto a roller, a printing unit 99 , the support surface 15, the paper cutter 98 and the previously described device consisting of the sealing closure device 2 with the sealing contact portion 14 is realized. In a first step, the media storage belt 92 is rotated counterclockwise in the drive direction 95, so that the printing media 91 printed by the printing unit 99 is output from the media output opening 30 along the support surface 15 between the sealing closures 2 Transmission in direction 12. If the predetermined printing part 97 is transported to that side of the paper cutter 98 behind the media outlet opening 30 in the output direction 12, then the printing part 97 is separated from the rest of the media stock 92. Then the control unit 93 controls the driving part (not shown) of the medium storage tape 92 in the clockwise direction against the driving direction 95, so that the remaining printing medium 91 on the medium storage tape 92 moves against the output direction 12, Until the sensor 100 detects the end of the printing medium 91 produced by the breaking knife in the output direction 12 in front of the sealing device 2 and passes this signal to the control device 93, the device makes the unused end of the medium storage tape 92 The drive is shown stopped in motion.

Claims (23)

1. the printer (101) that has long medium delivery outlet (30), this printer has at least one supporting surface that limits medium delivery outlet (30) in a lateral direction (15), print media (91) slides thereon along this supporting surface when output, it is characterized in that, described medium delivery outlet (30) has long hermetically enclosed device (2), it can move and utilize sealing contact site (14) flexibly to compress supporting surface (15) in a lateral direction and make medium delivery outlet (30) sealing, and wherein said print media (91) can be gone up output at outbound course (12) between described supporting surface (15) and described hermetically enclosed device (2).

2. printer according to claim 1 (101) is characterized in that, described hermetically enclosed device (2) is designed to have the elastic sealing device of elastic packing lip (10), and described sealing lip flexibly compresses described supporting surface (15).

3. printer according to claim 2 (101), it is characterized in that, described sealing device has the local at least falculate cross-sectional outling that is, the convex side of wherein said cross-sectional outling (11) points to the rightabout of the outbound course (12) of print media.

4. printer according to claim 2 (101) is characterized in that described sealing device is designed to hollow profile, and the wall of surrounding cavity is circular oval or avette.

5. printer according to claim 3 (101) is characterized in that, described sealing device respectively is provided with end horizontal bar (5) in recessed cavity face (13) in the zone of the end of restriction longitudinal extension.

6. printer according to claim 5 (101), it is characterized in that, the plane that is limited by described end horizontal bar (5) favours horizontal direction and is provided with, thereby the angle of the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction (16) of described horizontal bar and sealing device is between 30 ° and 85 °.

7. printer according to claim 6 (101) is characterized in that, the angle of the longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction (16) of described horizontal bar and sealing device is 60 °.

8. printer according to claim 7 (101) is characterized in that, the distance between the relative end horizontal bar (5) in place, two ends increases towards sealing contact site (14) direction.

9. printer according to claim 5 (101), it is characterized in that, in the centre of longitudinal direction with another one horizontal bar (4) at least also is set in both sides between the end horizontal bar (5) separately, described other horizontal bar has and the same obliquity of described end horizontal bar (5), is arranged on recessed cavity face (13) lining.

10. printer according to claim 9 (101) is characterized in that, described other horizontal bar is parallel to described end horizontal bar (5).

11. printer according to claim 5 (101) is characterized in that, at least end horizontal bar (5) in its elongated area in a lateral direction, have with recessed cavity face (13) fully and being connected of leakproof.

12. printer according to claim 2 (101), it is characterized in that, described sealing device is by two parts (1 with different hardness, 3) form, wherein softer parts (3) are arranged in the zone of sealing contact site (14), and harder parts (1) then are arranged in the fastening area of sealing device basically.

13. printer according to claim 2 (101) is characterized in that, described sealing device is fixed on the boundary of paper delivery outlet in the zone that is positioned at supporting surface (15) opposite.

14. printer according to claim 13 (101), it is characterized in that, described sealing device is by means of centering projection (21) location, described sealing device is provided with dimple (6) in fastening area (52) lining relative with sealing contact site (14) in a lateral direction, and wherein said centering projection (21) is arranged on this dimple (6) lining.

15. printer according to claim 14 (101) is characterized in that, described dimple (6) has the mating surface (9) of projection (21) that are used to feel relieved, and described mating surface is by forming than the layer than soft-component (1) on the hard component (3).

16. printer according to claim 14 (101) is characterized in that, clamp structure is clamped in fastening area (52) lining with sealing device.

17. printer according to claim 1 (101), it is characterized in that, described hermetically enclosed device (2) is designed to the hermetically enclosed device of springing, the sealing locking device has the plate spring portion (51) that is designed to leaf spring (55), and what be right after this part is enclosure portion (50), described enclosure portion has the basic contact edge of rigidity that is, this contact edge utilization sealing contact site (14) is resisted against on the supporting surface (15), and wherein said plate spring portion (51) flexibly compresses supporting surface (15) in advance with enclosure portion (50).

18. printer according to claim 17 (101) is characterized in that, described supporting surface (15) is provided with cushion course.

19. printer according to claim 18 (101) is characterized in that, described cushion course is made up of felt (57).

20. printer according to claim 17 (101), it is characterized in that, described sealing device is extended with the sliding surface with the contact edge adjacency on the opposite direction of outbound course (12), this sliding surface is located to form acute angle with supporting surface (15) at sealing contact site (14).

21. printer according to claim 17 (101) is characterized in that, described sealing device designs to such an extent that the specific output hole is longer in a longitudinal direction.

22. be used for Method of printing according to claim 1 or 17 described printers (101), it is characterized in that, control module (93) control is from the feeding medium of medium storage band (92) and design like this, make and in the first step of print procedure, will on outbound course (12), be transported to the distally of hermetically enclosed device (2) from the print media (91) of medium storage band (92), the print media (91) that to print in second step separates with medium storage band (92) and will carry back along the rightabout of outbound course (12) with the residue print media (91) that medium storage band (92) links to each other in the 3rd step, until no longer include print media (91) between described supporting surface (15) and described sealing contact site (14).

23. Method of printing according to claim 22, it is characterized in that, described printer (101) has sensor (97), and described sensor is passed to control module (93) with the signal whether print media (91) is positioned at sealing contact site (14) zone on the supporting surface (15).

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